By Omeiza Ajayi
The Ijaw Youth Council IYC Worldwide has issued a ultimate 60-day ultimatum to the Federal Authorities and its businesses to right away start the full-scale remediation and clean-up of all polluted Ijaw territories.
In a communique issued on Sunday by the Council’s President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, on the finish of its nationwide conference, the group warned that on the expiration of this window, they’d transfer to “collectively and decisively shut down all oil and fuel services working inside Ijaw territories.”
The IYC declared that the individuals would now not tolerate the “destruction of their land, waters, livelihoods and future,” and expressed deep frustration with a long time of environmental neglect.
“The Conference unequivocally condemned the continued ecological violence, oil air pollution, and environmental degradation being inflicted on Ijaw territories by means of a long time of reckless oil and fuel exploitation,” the assertion learn.
The council famous that their deliberate motion would comply with the precedent of the Ogoniland “no remediation, no oil and fuel exploration” mannequin.
In preparation for a possible standoff, the IYC has constituted a mobilization and sensitization committee. The physique is remitted to go to all Ijaw clans and communities to “educate, set up and put together the individuals for a coordinated and whole shutdown of oil and fuel operations ought to the Federal Authorities fail to behave.”
The group emphasised that regional assets shouldn’t be extracted “on the expense of Ijaw lives.”
Parallel to those environmental calls for, the IYC referred to as for administrative adjustments, particularly requesting the removing of the Challenge Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarin Zabbey, and the supervising Minister of Atmosphere.
The council alleged that these officers lack a correct understanding of the mandate required for efficient remediation.
Regardless of the aggressive stance on environmental justice, the IYC handed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, endorsing each for the 2027 basic elections.
The council praised Governor Fubara as an “ambassador of peace” and a “residing hero of democracy.”
Relating to the President, the communique acknowledged: “Mr President has gained the hearts of the Ijaw Youths, therefore our declaration of whole assist of his re-election bid 2027 is solely on his present of real love and dedication in ensuring that there’s peace in Rivers State.”
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